Morocco officially asks Switzerland and Geneva convention signatories to act for release of 1,362 Moroccan POW's

Morocco has officially asked Switzerland, which hosted the Geneva conventions signing ceremony, and signatory countries, to act for the release of 1,362 Moroccan prisoners of war still detained in the Tindouf camps on Algeria soil.

Morocco's permanent mission in Switzerland has sent to Switzerland a letter asking Swiss authorities to interfere with Algerian authorities to remind them of their obligations, as signatory to the four Geneva conventions and ask them to release these prisoners held on their territory, some of them for more than 20 years.

These detainees were captured and kidnapped by armed groups and taken to Algeria where they faced cruel, inhumane and degrading treatments, in total violation of the 3rd Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners.

Since the end of hostilities in 1991 and despite repeated calls by the UN Secretary General and the Security Council for the total, immediate and unconditional release of these detainees, Algeria has failed to heed these calls and has been liberating groups of prisoners, breaching article 18 of the 3rd Geneva convention, which stipulates that "prisoners shall be released and repatriated without delay after the end of hostilities."

The letter, which underscores how the deplorable and serious situation of Moroccan prisoners in Algeria constitutes a breach of detention conditions under the 3rd convention, recalls concerns expressed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, in its communiqu? dated February 21, over the deteriorating physical and psychological status of these 1,362 POW's, some of them being the world's oldest prisoners, and called for their immediate liberation.

In this letter, Morocco calls for the total, immediate and unconditional release of these prisoners and urges the international community and the Geneva convention signatory countries to ensure the implementation of humanitarian law as a part and parcel of international law under which POW's should be given protection, repatriated and released without any delay. Morocco also urges the government of Switzerland, in its capacity as depositary of the four Geneva conventions, to intervene with Algerian authorities and draw their attention to the need to abide by germane conventions and endeavor with those holding these Moroccans on their territory to put an end to their plight, as required by the international humanitarian law, United Nations resolutions and the universal moral values.